Paradise Kiss Fan Fiction ❯ The Left Hand Dreams of Him ❯ New Ring, New Love ( Chapter 4 )

New Ring, New Love

 

It took a long time for Miho and Kawamura to drag Wataru to the local accessory shop. Even though Wataru had agreed to replace his ring and buy a completely new design, he'd had trouble letting go. When he'd made the commitment, he hadn't actually been ready to go through with it. So, naturally, whenever Miho and Kawamura were both free to go with him, he would always mysteriously have something to do. It was always, “Oh, sorry guys but I'm hanging out with my sister today,” or “I can't, I've been slacking in my classes and the professors are really coming down hard on me.”

Finally, Miho and Kawamura decided to take him to the shop by force. Well…they kidnapped him. On a day when none of them had anything of importance in their schedules, they decided to blow off the last classes of the day so that they could get Wataru a new ring. It was now two months since Wataru had broken up with Kazuki.

As Miho and Kawamura pushed Wataru across the threshold of the store, Wataru was still complaining, “This is ridiculous! Why should I get a ring? They're not even trendy anymore, why don't I get one of those cool chains instead?” Wataru pointed to some plain necklace chains that were for sale in one section of the store.

“But rings suit you! Don't be an idiot, since when have you ever cared about trends?” Kawamura replied, frustrated.

“Never…”

“Exactly…which is why we're getting you a new RING.”

“Fine… but I'm going to pick it.”

Kawamura and Miho looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Wataru was SO stubborn! They lingered by the entrance while Wataru bit his lip and proceeded to search for a new ring.

“Kawa-kun, can we please persuade him to pick something more attractive than the plain ring from before?” Miho asked sweetly.

“…don't call me `Kawa-kun'… and yes,” Kawamura said in the same singsong-y voice.

“But I like `Kawa-kun' for you!”

“Absolutely not.”

“Pleeeease…I'll stop making fun of you and Michiko…”

“Actually I'm not that bothered by that part…so it's still a no.”

“Fi-“

Wataru interrupted their argument, “Guys, I think I found one. Come here.”

He led them over to a small display of different ring designs. He pointed at a simple band with three gold lines.

Kawamura sighed and shook his head. Miho said, “But that's just like you're old one!”

“Yeah, and?”

“And we want you to get over Kazuki. This definitely won't help.”

Wataru sighed and mumbled, “Yeah, I guess you're right.”

“Wataru, what about this one?” Miho pointed to another silver ring with a Celtic design.

“That's kinda cool.”

“Try one on.”

Wataru slipped the ring onto his right middle finger and stared. It was a perfect fit. He looked at Kawamura and Miho and nodded for their opinions.

“Phwoar it looks good! Give us a kiss!” exclaimed Kawamura.

The group burst into laughter again and Wataru said, “Well, I guess this is the ring for me then.” He leaned toward Kawamura and puckered up, and fell into fits of laughter before getting anywhere near Kawamura's lips.

After they had finished laughing, Wataru went to purchase his `give us a kiss' ring. On their way out, Miho, Kawamura, and Wataru ran into Kazuki.

“Er… hey, Kazuki.”

“Hi…how are you?”

“I'm fine, thanks.” Wataru hoped he sounded more confident than he actually felt, “What about you?”

“I'm okay, I guess. What are you doing here?”

“Buying a new ring.” Kazuki was shocked and his expression of confidence faltered substantially.

“…Oh. Um, I'd better go. Bye.” Kazuki turned and practically ran out of the shop.

Kawamura and Miho were miffed, “He didn't even say `hi' to us.”

Wataru rolled his eyes and said, “Let's go, I'm hungry.” Hopefully Kazuki won't turn up wherever we go eat. “Have you guys ever tried Chilean food?”

 

 

“So yesterday you seemed really confident when Kazuki showed up…Are you finally over him?”

“Hardly. I was just finally able to act like I was okay.”

“Miho was really hoping you were finally over him. She was telling me earlier that she has the biggest crush on you.”

“Still?”

“Maybe you should try dating her. Who knows? Maybe this will help get you out of your funk.”

“Nah, I just don't feel the same way about her. I guess I'm just gay. There's no in-between, is there?”

“Are you telling me that you feel that way about another guy?” Kawamura pried.

“I think so…”

After a few minutes of silence, Kawamura prodded, “Well, who is it, then?”

“I don't think I should tell you…”

“Why not? I've already accepted your homo-ness!”

“Alright, alright! Well, it's er…. you” as Wataru said this he concentrated on looking everywhere except at him.

“Oh… well … uh …”

“Well-it's-just-that-we've-been-friends-forever-and-you've- always-been-there-for-me…” Wataru rushed as he spoke.

“Um… I'm really sorry Wataru…I…well… you know I'm not gay. I like girls.”

And there it was… rejection. Although Wataru was never expecting a mutual feeling from Kawamura, Wataru was still hurt. God, I can't believe I just told him that. Of course he doesn't feel the same way as me. How stupid could I be?

“Wataru, you're not stupid. I'm just irresistible, that's all.” Kawamura laughed to cover up his embarrassment. Why had he asked? Kawamura sincerely hoped that things wouldn't get all awkward between them. After all, they were best friends. All of a sudden Kawamura needed to get away, “I'll…uh…be right back. I just want to get something to drink before our next class starts,” and with that he left, leaving Wataru to brood.

 

Instead of going to get something to eat, Kawamura went to go find Miho. She was in her own classroom in the middle of a class, but Kawamura's need to speak to her was so urgent that he went inside anyway.

“Sumimasen. Kata-sensei, I really need to speak to Ookusa Miho (1). Is she available?” Kawamura made sure to be extra polite because Kata-sensei was known for being very strict and usually would refuse to let his students leave the classroom for any reason.

“Well, I was just telling a story about how I taught a class in the United States! Is it absolutely necessary?”

“Yes sensei. I'm very sorry to interrupt, I will be very quick.”

“Alright then, Ookusa-san, you have five minutes.”

As Miho got up and started walking towards the door, the whole class erupted in whispers of “Are they going out? I thought she went out with Fujii!”

“Settle down students! Now, back to my story. In America, anime and manga are considered uncool…”

Kawamura shut the door quietly and laughed, “Kata-sensei is actually really funny. You should talk to him when he's not teaching.”

“Maybe I'll do that sometime…so why do you need me?”

“Wataru just told me that he likes me. I don't know what to do! Do I act normally or should I stop hanging out with him for a while? Ahh!”

“Kawa-kun, just act normally. You should be flattered! I wish he felt that way about me…”

“Didn't I tell you not to call me that? I really wish he felt that way about you too. Maybe then I wouldn't be in this mess.”

Miho shrugged.

“So how do I make things normal again?”

“Well, Wataru won't think it's a big deal. Maybe you should actually try going on a date with him. Don't call it a date though. If you get in a romantic situation with him, you'll see it's not such a big deal.”

“How is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“The way I see it, you're the only one who's weirded out by this. If you submerge yourself in that, then you won't be bothered anymore. It's like when people are afraid of heights, their therapists make them face their fears by going in like a high-rise building or something.”

“Miho… you're so weird. But somehow it sort-of makes sense in an I-totally-don't-want-to-do-this way.”